JP3847952B2 - Wireless communication apparatus and control method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus and a control how.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a wireless communication technology with a remote place, a configuration has been proposed in which image information is transmitted and received at locations separated from each other using spread spectrum communication. Here, an example of transmission means using the spread spectrum system will be described.
[0003]
In general, in the spread spectrum method using the direct spread method, the transmission side uses a spread code sequence such as a pseudo-noise code (PN code) from the baseband signal of the digital signal that is normally transmitted, compared to the original data. Spread to baseband signal with wide bandwidth. Then, modulation such as PSK (phase shift keying), FSK (frequency shift keying), etc. is performed, converted into an RF (radio frequency) signal, and transmitted.
[0004]
On the receiving side, despreading that correlates with the received signal is performed using the same spreading code as that on the transmitting side, and the received signal is converted into a narrowband signal having a bandwidth corresponding to the original data. Subsequently, normal data demodulation is performed to reproduce the original data.
[0005]
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a system configuration of a conventional example when the spread spectrum communication is used as the wireless communication means. In FIG. 5, 501 is a camera unit of image input means, 502 is a modem unit to be described later, 503 and 504 are wireless units that transmit and receive using the above-described spread spectrum communication, and 505 is received spread spectrum reception data. The audio / video signal is restored from the image and output to the monitor, and various operation keys for operating the zoom of the camera unit 501 are provided, and the control signal corresponding to each control is converted into the data of the spread spectrum communication and transmitted. It is a monitor unit. Some of the monitor units 505 can record image and audio data on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape.
[0006]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the modem unit 502 described above. In FIG. 6, 61 is an image input unit for A / D converting an image signal, 62 is a digital image compression unit for compressing a digitized image signal, 63 is an audio input unit for A / D converting an audio signal, Reference numeral 64 denotes a digital audio compression unit that compresses a digitized audio signal. Reference numeral 65 denotes a packet data conversion unit that converts input image and audio signals into packet data for spread spectrum communication. Reference numeral 66 denotes a connector connected to an external spread spectrum radio unit.
[0007]
Reference numeral 67 denotes a received data restoration unit that restores the control data of the camera unit 501 from data received by spread spectrum communication, and reference numeral 68 denotes a control signal output unit that outputs the restored control data to the camera unit 501. A control unit 69 includes a wireless communication protocol control and a microcomputer for controlling these blocks.
[0008]
Next, a procedure for transmitting and receiving image data and control data wirelessly with the above configuration will be described:
Normally, CSMA / Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA / CD), which has been used in wired networks that have been conventionally known as a communication protocol for a network in which multiple devices transmit and receive wirelessly, adds wireless characteristics. There is a protocol called / CA (CSMA with Collision Avoidance).
[0009]
In CSMA / CA, a terminal attempting to transmit data observes the signal state of a transmission path (wireless channel) before transmission. As a result of observation, when a state in which no signal is confirmed on the transmission line continues for a predetermined time (gap time), data is transmitted on the assumption that no signal is detected on the transmission line. In addition, when a signal from another is confirmed on the transmission line within a predetermined time, the protocol is such that transmission is temporarily stopped. That is, once the connection between the transmission side and the reception side is ensured, the protocol is such that transmission and reception are continuously performed while maintaining the secured connection for a while.
[0010]
With the system configuration as described above, the audio / video data captured by the camera unit is wirelessly transmitted to the monitor unit 505 at a remote location via spread spectrum communication, and the camera unit 501 is watching the video on the monitor unit 505. A zoom control, a panning control signal, and the like are transmitted by bidirectional spread spectrum communication, and the remote control operation of the camera unit 501 can be performed.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional example has the following problems:
That is, since there is only one means for controlling the camera unit 501 wirelessly, when the person who is shooting and operating with the monitor unit 505 is away from the person who is shooting as the subject, the subject person is the camera unit. There was a problem that the operation 501 could not be performed.
[0012]
For example, when a golf form check or the like is performed alone using a conventional system, if the monitor unit 505 is in the immediate vicinity of the player, it will be in the way of play, so it will be placed some distance away. In such a case, when starting and stopping framing, recording, etc., it is necessary to go to the place where the monitor unit 505 is installed, which is inconvenient. In addition, when the camera unit 501 is used as a surveillance camera, the installation location of the camera 501 is often a place where it is difficult for human hands to reach, so the same inconvenience occurs when the monitor unit 505 is not at hand. There was.
[0013]
Furthermore, conventionally, there may be a configuration in which control by a plurality of control means by radio is possible, but there is a problem that mutual control signals compete at that time.
[0014]
Accordingly, the present invention is to enable control by radio of a plurality of control means, shall be the object thereof is to prevent conflicts of control signals from the control means.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One of the wireless communication apparatuses according to the present invention, for example, performs not only an operation according to a control signal received by a first wireless communication means capable of bidirectional communication but also a second communication capable of one-way communication. A wireless communication device that performs an operation according to a control signal received by the wireless communication device, wherein the first wireless communication device determines whether or not the first wireless communication device is connected to the wireless communication device. If it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is not connected to the wireless communication device, the control unit determines whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit. And determining that the first wireless communication means is connected to the wireless communication device, the control means receives the control signal received by the first wireless communication means and the first wireless communication means. 2 wireless communication means As the received control signal does not conflict, and characterized in that to allow priority than the received control signal by said first radio said received control signal by the communication means a second radio communication unit To do.
[0016]
One of the wireless communication apparatuses according to the present invention, for example, performs not only an operation according to a control signal received by a first wireless communication means capable of bidirectional communication but also a second communication capable of one-way communication. A wireless communication device that performs an operation according to a control signal received by the wireless communication device, wherein the first wireless communication device determines whether or not the first wireless communication device is connected to the wireless communication device. If it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is not connected to the wireless communication device, the control unit determines whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit. And determining that the first wireless communication means is connected to the wireless communication device, the control means responds to a control signal received by the first wireless communication means. Whether or not to perform And characterized by the allow before the determination of whether to perform an operation according to the received control signal by the second wireless communication means.
[0019]
One of the control methods according to the present invention is, for example, a second method that not only performs an operation according to a control signal received by a first wireless communication unit capable of bidirectional communication but also allows one-way communication. A method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus that performs an operation according to a control signal received by a wireless communication means, wherein it is determined whether or not the first wireless communication means is connected to the wireless communication apparatus, and the first When it is determined that one wireless communication unit is not connected to the wireless communication device, it is possible to determine whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit, When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is connected to the wireless communication device, the control signal received by the first wireless communication unit and the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit Not to conflict with , Characterized in that to allow priority than the received control signal by said first radio said received control signal by the communication means a second radio communication means.
[0020]
One of the control methods according to the present invention is, for example, a second method that not only performs an operation according to a control signal received by a first wireless communication unit capable of bidirectional communication but also allows one-way communication. A method of controlling a wireless communication apparatus that performs an operation according to a control signal received by a wireless communication means, wherein it is determined whether or not the first wireless communication means is connected to the wireless communication apparatus, and the first When it is determined that one wireless communication unit is not connected to the wireless communication device, it is possible to determine whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit, When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is connected to the wireless communication device, it is determined whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the first wireless communication unit. Received by second wireless communication means Characterized in that so as to perform before the determining whether or not performing an operation corresponding to the control signal.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail based on a plurality of examples with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
【Example】
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an image transmission unit of the wireless communication apparatus according to the first embodiment (corresponding to FIG. 5). In the figure, 101 is a camera unit (camcorder), and 102 is the same as in the conventional example in FIG. 5, converts image and audio data into digital data, performs compression processing, converts it into data for spread spectrum communication, and transmits it. A modem unit that serves to restore camera unit control data from received spread spectrum received data, 103 is a wireless unit for spread spectrum communication, 104 is an infrared remote controller that can control zooming and recording operations of the camcorder 101, and 105 is an infrared ray An infrared light emitting unit 106 of the remote controller 104 is an infrared light receiving unit of the camcorder 101. Since the monitor unit that displays a wirelessly received image and can control the camera unit by spread spectrum communication is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the camcorder 101 of FIG. In the figure, an optical image that has passed through the lens optical system 200 is converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 201, converted into an image signal by the image signal processing circuit 202, and output to a recording device 203 using a magnetic tape or the like. Reference numeral 204 denotes a microphone unit. An external audio signal is processed by the audio signal processing circuit 205 and output to the recording device 203. The image and audio signals are also output to an external terminal connected to the modem unit 102 in FIG.
[0026]
Reference numeral 206 denotes a key unit for performing various operations such as zooming, execution and stop of the recording operation of the camcorder 101, and reference numeral 207 denotes an infrared remote control light receiving unit for receiving a control signal from the infrared remote control 104. Outputs from the key unit 206 and the infrared remote control light receiving unit 207 are input to the control unit 208. The control unit 208 is mainly composed of a microcomputer or the like, and controls the zoom driving unit 209, the focus driving unit 210, and the recording device 203 based on each input information. A control signal received by spread spectrum communication from the modem unit 102 is also input to the control unit 208.
[0027]
By adopting a configuration that can be controlled by a plurality of wireless control means, such as spread spectrum communication and infrared remote control, such as when performing a golf form check alone, which has been a problem in the past, for example, a monitor Even when the unit is not in the immediate vicinity of the person to be photographed, it is possible to freely operate zooming, starting / stopping recording, etc. using the infrared remote controller 104.
[0028]
However, when such a configuration is possible in which control is performed by a plurality of wireless control means, there is a possibility that the control signals of these two wireless communications compete with each other. When such wireless control signal contention occurs, it is desirable to prioritize more efficient control signals.
[0029]
Features of this real施例as a control signal to be prioritized in the case where this type of control signal conflict occurs, is to select a control signal of the radio control unit that performs bi-directional communication. In wireless two-way communication, as described above, communication is performed while ensuring mutual connection using a wireless communication protocol and confirming reliable transmission and reception. On the other hand, one-way communication like the infrared remote controller 104 is not very efficient because it only transmits a control signal unilaterally regardless of the operation state of the camcorder 101 from the infrared remote controller 104.
[0030]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of the control unit 208 (FIG. 2) in the camcorder 101 in view of this point, and shows processing corresponding to a competition between a plurality of control signals.
[0031]
First, in step S300, each part shown in FIG. 2 and the inside of the microcontroller of the control unit 208 are initialized. Next, in step S301, it is checked whether or not there is a key operation input on the camcorder main body 101. If a key operation is performed, the control unit 208 in FIG. 2 responds to the content of the key operation in step 302. Controls zoom control and recording start.
[0032]
If it is determined in step S301 that there is no key operation input, in step S303, it is checked whether there is reception control data from the spread spectrum communication unit for bidirectional communication, and some control data is spread spectrum communication. In the case of input via the unit, the control unit 208 performs an operation according to the content of the control data received in step S304.
[0033]
If it is determined in step S303 that there is no reception control data from the spread spectrum communication unit, it is checked in step S305 whether there is a reception command from the infrared remote controller 104, and any reception command from any infrared remote controller is determined. Is received, the control unit 208 performs an operation according to the command content received in step S306. Step S307 is processing of the other camcorder 101.
[0034]
When the control signal from the monitor unit capable of controlling the camera unit by spread spectrum communication competes with the control signal from the infrared remote controller 104 by operating the control unit 208 as described above, bidirectional communication is performed. The control signal from the spread spectrum communication unit that performs is prioritized and executed.
[0035]
In the first embodiment, spread spectrum communication is used as the bidirectional wireless communication means. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to spread spectrum communication, and any wireless communication means capable of bidirectional communication can be used. Of course it is good.
[0036]
(Second embodiment)
The second embodiment according to the present invention will be described below. Since the components of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. The feature of the second embodiment is the operation flow of the control unit 208 of FIG.
[0037]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of the control unit 208 in the present embodiment. Compared with the first embodiment of FIG. 3, priority is given to wireless control signals for bidirectional communication more strongly. Is.
[0038]
First, in step S400, each part shown in FIG. 2 and the inside of the microcontroller of the control unit 208 are initialized. Next, in step S401, it is checked whether or not there is a key operation input on the camcorder main body 101. If a key operation is performed, the control unit 208 performs zoom control according to the content of the key operation in step S402. Control the start of recording.
[0039]
If it is determined in step S401 that there is no key operation input, in step S403, it is detected whether or not the modem unit 102 using the spread spectrum communication of FIG. 1 is connected to the camcorder 101. In this detection method, communication is performed with the modem unit 102, and a determination is made based on whether or not a response ACK signal is returned.
[0040]
If it is determined in step S403 that there is a spread spectrum communication modem unit 102, it is checked in step S404 whether there is reception control data from the spread spectrum communication unit that is performing bidirectional communication. When the control data is input via the spread spectrum communication, the control unit 208 in FIG. 2 performs an operation according to the content of the control data received by the spread spectrum communication in step S405. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S404 that there is no reception control data for spread spectrum communication, the process ends regardless of whether there is a reception command from the infrared remote controller 104.
[0041]
The signal of the infrared remote controller 104 is accepted only when it is determined in step S403 that there is no spread spectrum communication modem unit 102, and only in that case, whether or not there is a reception command from the infrared remote controller 104 in step S406. When any received command from the infrared remote controller 104 is received, the control unit 208 performs an operation according to the command content received in step S407. Step S408 is other camcorder processing.
[0042]
In this way, when wireless control means (spread spectrum communication in this embodiment) that performs two-way communication is connected, the control signal competes by not substantially accepting the control command of the infrared remote controller 104. In some cases, it is possible to prevent malfunction caused by light from the infrared remote controller of another system.
[0043]
In this embodiment, an infrared remote controller is used as the one-way wireless control means. However, the infrared remote controller is not particularly limited to infrared rays. Of course, a weak radio wave may be used for one-way communication. It is.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to wirelessly control a plurality of control means and to prevent competition of control signals from the respective control means .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image transmission unit of a wireless communication apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a configuration of a camcorder in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an operation sequence flowchart of a control unit in the camcorder of the first embodiment. 4 is an operation sequence flowchart of a control unit in a camcorder according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a system configuration of a wireless communication apparatus using spread spectrum communication according to a conventional example. FIG. Configuration block diagram [Explanation of symbols]
101 Camera unit (camcorder)
102 modem unit 103 wireless unit 104 infrared remote control 105 infrared light emitting unit 106 infrared light receiving unit 200 lens optical system 202 video signal processing circuit 203 recording device 206 key unit 207 infrared remote control light receiving unit 208 control unit 209 zoom drive unit 210 focus drive unit

Claims (12)

In addition to performing an operation according to the control signal received by the first wireless communication means capable of bidirectional communication, an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication means capable of one-way communication A wireless communication device for performing
Control means for determining whether or not the first wireless communication means is connected to the wireless communication device;
If it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is not connected to the wireless communication device, the control unit determines whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit To be able to make decisions
When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is connected to the wireless communication device, the control unit receives the control signal received by the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit. as the control signal and no conflicts are, characterized in that to allow priority than the received control signal by said first radio communication means and the second wireless communication means received control signals by Wireless communication device. In addition to performing an operation according to the control signal received by the first wireless communication means capable of bidirectional communication, an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication means capable of one-way communication A wireless communication device for performing
Control means for determining whether or not the first wireless communication means is connected to the wireless communication device;
If it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is not connected to the wireless communication device, the control unit determines whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit To be able to make decisions
If it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is connected to the wireless communication device, the control unit determines whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the first wireless communication unit A wireless communication apparatus characterized in that the determination can be performed prior to the determination as to whether or not to perform an operation in accordance with the control signal received by the second wireless communication means. It further has an operation means for operating the wireless communication device,
The determination as to whether or not to perform an operation according to an operation performed on the operation means precedes the determination as to whether or not to perform an operation according to a control signal received by the first wireless communication means. the wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that so as to perform the. Said first wireless communication means, a radio communication apparatus according to either the claim 1, wherein 3 to be a radio communication means for performing communication using a spread spectrum. It said second wireless communication means, a radio communication apparatus according to either the claim 1, wherein 4 to be a wireless communication means for performing communication using infrared rays. The wireless communication apparatus according to either Re Izu of claims 1 to 5, characterized by further comprising a video signal generating means for generating a video signal using an imaging element. In addition to performing an operation according to the control signal received by the first wireless communication means capable of bidirectional communication, an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication means capable of one-way communication A method of controlling a wireless communication device that performs
Determining whether the first wireless communication means is connected to the wireless communication device;
When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is not connected to the wireless communication device, it can be determined whether or not to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit. West,
When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is connected to the wireless communication device, the control signal received by the first wireless communication unit and the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit control method bets is to avoid conflicts, characterized in that to allow priority than the received control signal by said first radio said received control signal by the communication means a second radio communication means. In addition to performing an operation according to the control signal received by the first wireless communication means capable of bidirectional communication, an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication means capable of one-way communication A method of controlling a wireless communication device that performs
Determining whether the first wireless communication means is connected to the wireless communication device;
When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is not connected to the wireless communication device, it can be determined whether or not to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the second wireless communication unit. West,
When it is determined that the first wireless communication unit is connected to the wireless communication device, it is determined whether to perform an operation according to the control signal received by the first wireless communication unit. A control method characterized in that it can be performed prior to determining whether or not to perform an operation in accordance with a control signal received by the second wireless communication means. It further has an operation means for operating the wireless communication device,
The determination as to whether or not to perform an operation according to an operation performed on the operation means precedes the determination as to whether or not to perform an operation according to a control signal received by the first wireless communication means. The control method according to claim 7, wherein the control method can be performed as follows. It said first wireless communication means, a control method according to Izu Re one of claims 7 9, characterized in that a wireless communication means for performing communication using a spread spectrum. It said second wireless communication means, a control method according to claim 7 in Izu Re of 10, which is a wireless communication means for performing communication using infrared rays. The wireless communications apparatus, control method according to Izu Re one of claims 7 to 11, further comprising a video signal generating means for generating a video signal by using an image sensor.

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